An early start for the Championship Final today but not too early for Bev who was there ready to send Carol and Sarah off. Although bright and sunny, there was a noticeable chilly breeze up at the Braids today.
Carol started off firing on all cylinders with pars or better on the first 4 holes. Sarah held it together and started her fight back with a half on the 4th and holing a slippery putt on the 5th to get one back. She followed that up winning the sixth which was playing long into the wind. Carol won the 7th, the 8th was halved and Sarah won the 9th, giving Carol a one hole advantage going into the back 9.
After a win for Carol on 10 to go 2 up, the match then got really tight with halves on 11, 12 and 13. On 12 Sarah executed a very delicate chip from behind the green to halve the hole with Carol who was on in regulation. On 13 Sarah was on the green and looking good with Carol on the hill at the left but a super chip that landed above the pin and then rolled down to gimme distance earned Carol a very good half. A slightly pushed drive by Sarah on 14 resulted in a lost ball which enabled Carol to go 3 up. However, tough match player that she is, Sarah won 15 to get the match to 2 up to Carol going up 16. Both had excellent drives but Sarah's shot to the green was slightly long leaving her with a very unpleasant chip downhill which she executed perfectly. However with the slope and the wind the ball ran a little too far for her to hole the putt and Carol made her par to win the match and the Championship. Great golf from both players and excellent entertainment for the posse of spectators. Congratulations Carol, who has made it a double, winning the singles knockout as well. Commiserations, Sarah, but you've had a really excellent year of golf - long may it continue.
Players and spectators then repaired to the Braid Hills Hotel for coffee and shortbread.
